Avalanche survivor buried for 4 hours, 1 arm free

The sole survivor of an avalanche that killed five men in Colorado was fully buried in snow except for his left arm, which allowed him to clear snow from his face so he could breathe.

GEORGETOWN, Colo. (AP) — The sole survivor of an avalanche that killed five men in Colorado was fully buried in snow except for his left arm, which allowed him to clear snow from his face so he could breathe.

The final report on the slide released Wednesday said the man was stranded for about four hours before rescuers arrived to free him near Loveland Pass.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center said the slide, the state’s deadliest since 1962, was large enough to bury or destroy a car.

The center’s report said one of the victims was buried 10 to 12 feet deep.

The center has previously said the avalanche was the type caused by a weak snow layer that can be buried deep in the snowpack.